| European nettle tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Celtis australis[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Cannabaceae |
| Genus: | Celtis |
| Species: | C. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Celtis australis | |
 | |
| Distribution map | |
Celtis australis, theEuropean nettle tree,Mediterranean hackberry,lote tree, or honeyberry,[3] is adeciduous tree native to Southern Europe, North Africa, andAsia Minor. The tree was introduced to England in 1796.[4]
The tree can grow to 25 m in height, though 10 m is more common in cooler climates. The bark is smooth and grey, almost elephantine.[5]
The alternate leaves are narrow and sharp-toothed, rugose above and tomentose below, 5–15 cm long and dark grey/green throughout the year, fading to a pale yellow before falling in autumn.
The apetalous wind-pollinated flowers areperfect (hermaphrodite, having both male and female organs), small and green, either singly or in small clusters.
The fruit is a small, dark-purple berry-likedrupe, 1 cm wide, hanging in short clusters. They are edible and are extremely popular with birds and other wildlife.
Celtis australis is supposed to have been the Lotus of the ancients, whose fruitHerodotus,Dioscorides, andTheophrastus describe as sweet, pleasant, and wholesome.Homer hasUlysses refer to the "Lotus-eaters" and the "lotus" inOdyssey, Book IX.[6]
It is often planted as an ornamental as it is long-living and resistant to air pollution. The fruit of this tree is sweet and edible, and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves and fruit are astringent, lenitive, and stomachic.Decoction of both leaves and fruit is used in the treatment ofamenorrhoea, heavy menstrual and inter-menstrual bleeding, and colic. The decoction can also be used to astringe the mucous membranes in the treatment ofdiarrhea,dysentery, and peptic ulcers. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark.The wood is very tough, pliable, durable, and widely used by turners; the flexible, thin shoots are used as walking sticks.
The plant prefers light well-drained (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, including those nutritionally poor; it can tolerate drought but not shade. TheMediterranean climate is especially suitable for the plant but it can tolerate colder climate (USDA Zone 7B). An article on Nettle tree cultivation is brought down inIbn al-'Awwam's 12th-century agricultural work,Book on Agriculture.[7]
In different countries,Celtis australis is known under the followingcommon names:
Trade names are: nettle wood, brimji.[8]
A large specimen planted in 1550 stands before the church in thevillage perché ofFox-Amphoux in theProvence region of southern France. The tree was 18 m in height with acircumference at breast height of 5 m in 2013.[9] In Islamic tradition, hackberry trees are considered holy and amulets made from their wood are employed to exorcise demons. The hackberry trees on theTemple Mount inJerusalem are said to be the oldest in the world.[10]
The fruit and its effects are described inTennyson's poemThe Lotos-Eaters.
The leaves ofCeltis australis are a rich source offlavonoid C-glycosides.[11][12]Young leaves ofCeltis australis from Northern Italy were found to contain the highest amounts of phenolics per gram dry weight. Amounts rapidly decreased until mid-May and after this date the level of phenolics fluctuated but showed no discernible trend. This general trend of high amounts of phenolics in the early growing season and a fast decline affected bothcaffeic acid derivatives andflavonoids.[13]
